Officials from the Peterborough County-City Health Unit (PCCHU) have announced details of the plan to move to downtown Peterborough this fall. Starting in November, all programs and services delivered at PCCHU’s locations at Hospital Drive and O’Carroll Avenue will move to Jackson Square at 185 King Street (the former federal building).
PCCHU’s Community Dental Health Centre will remain nearby at Peterborough Square on George Street. As well as the health unit’s health promotion, inspection, and policy planning activities, the following front-line services will be offered at Jackson Square:
- Sexual health clinic
- Routine immunization clinic
- Travel health clinic
- Vaccine records and immunization consultation
- Vaccine pick up for healthcare providers
- Prenatal classes
- Nutrition workshops
- Food handler training courses
- Septic/sewage disposal permits
- Quitting smoking information
- Health hazards complaints and inquiries.
“Residents will find it much easier to use our programs and services in one central location and enjoy the convenience of accessing other health and social services nearby,” says Dr. Rosana Pellizzari, Medical Officer of Health. “Joining the downtown core also brings attention to the important role public health plays in building stronger communities and neighbourhoods through partnership, innovation, advocacy, and action.”
Renovations at Jackson Square are underway to create office spaces and meeting rooms. The health unit also plans to develop a commercial-quality community kitchen on the second floor. As the kitchen will not be funded by government sources, PCCHU will be launching a fundraising campaign to develop the feature. PCCHU plans to host an open house next spring to provide local residents and partners a chance to tour the new facilities.
PCCHU had originally reached a tentative deal with AON in 2013 to purchase the entire former federal building at 185 King Street, but that deal fell through when the health unit was unable to secure tenants for the top two floors. With the new deal, AON will retain ownership of the top two floors and intends to rent them.
The health unit financed the move by negotiating additional one-time funding of $1,798,300 from the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care and by selling its property at 10 Hospital Drive. The City and County of Peterborough and Hiawatha and Curve Lake First Nations also contributed a total of $599,433 in one-time funding towards the new building space.
The Ministry of Health and Long Term Care and municipal funders also agreed to increase PCCHU’s annual operating costs to accommodate payments on a $3.5 million mortgage (a loan backed by the City and County of Peterborough).
